The Saintsbury Winery was named after George Saintsbury, a British man of letters and wine connoisseur. It has come a long way since it was founded in 1981—in the last few decades it has accelerated its turn-out from 3000 cases to over 55,000! It specializes in the making of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and turns out select varietals of the latter occasionally.
Lagunitas Brewing Company is a popular brewery located in the neighborhood of Crown in Petaluma. The brewery, although not open for tourists, offers a vibrantly decorated and rustic looking brew pub or also known as the taproom. They also serve some delicious bar snacks like smoked chicken wings, nachos and pretzels to name a few. The bar attracts socially upbeat patrons and is a great place to sip on some fresh beer and enjoy the live sports telecast.
At Frog's Leap one will really get to know what true wine making is all about. Situated in the heart of Rutherford, here it is believed that a wine maker should allow the wine to develop with a distinct character of its own. Choosing grapes from the surrounding 40 acres (16 hectares) of vineyards, each grape varietal in here has a micro climate of its own. This permits the wine to add in a strong character of the "terroir" it has emmanted from. Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Leapfrögmilch, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford, Zinfandel and Pink are some of the names made here which you can select from. To add to this, they have an in-house wine and accessories store from where you can pick your flavor.
Finesse and elegance is the hallmark of Forman Vineyard as envisaged by Ric Forman, the proprietor of this beautiful estate growing grapes with a unique and distinct flavor. Traditional practices of wine making are still followed here to ensure the quality of wine. A visit to the famous Napa Valley would be incomplete if you miss the Forman Vineyard where you would be assured of high quality tasting sessions in a tasting room built from the very stones found in the valley.
If you want wine made out of your choice of grapes in small quantities—like maybe just a barrel, then Judd's Hill is the place you need to visit. The winery is owned and managed by Finkelstein family on the principle of 'small is beautiful.' They are quite happy to make wines on a made-to-order basis and according to customer specifications. They have a wine club where members have additional benefits and are invited to Judd's Hill events in Napa Valley. A combination of art, heritage, finest grapes and hand crafted wines is what Judd's Hill is all about. Picturesque and sunny, a visit to this winery is a great way to spend a lovely afternoon.
Located on top of a mountain, Pride Mountain Vineyards is spread out over 235 acres (95 hectares) and due to its vantage point, offers stunning views of Sonoma County. Offering exciting varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and more, the winery welcomes you to a tour of the estate and its most popular attraction, the caves. These caves lie about 50 feet (15 meters) below ground and the wine is aged in them in wooden casks. There are different, special, curated tasting sessions depending on location, so be sure to pick out your experience before visiting.